Glass cutting apparatus



Jan. 15, 1935. A. c. OAKES GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Jan. 15, 1935. A. c.OAKES GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1933 Jan. 15, 1935. A. c.OAKES GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets Sheet 3 Filed July 10, 1933INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED v 1.988.393

GLASS" co'r'rme g Altred-C. flakes, Mount Vernon, 0M0 Application July10, 1933, seen-summer r2 Claims. (01. as.' a;2

The object of the invention is to provide a ,glass cutting apparatusparticularly adapted for use in cutting EplIlOi/lfiE ribbonef-glass, sothat the score line may be maintained at right angles to thelongitudinal edge of the ribbonto insure making a straight cutjtoprovide glass cutting apparatus in which the cutter is mounted iormovement along a bodily movable carrier .having means toreleasablysecure it to themoving ribbon; to provide for flexiblysupporting the carrier so that ithmay return to its original or startingposition after each cut-ting operation; to provide a construction ofthekind indicated in which the cutting operations are automatically carriedout as the ribbon of glass :moves, so that sheets of the desired. heightmay be successively removed; toprovide means for varying the timeinterval in the cutting operation to make for a corresponding change invthe height of the glasssheets being cut; and generally to provide aglasscutting apparatus which, for the iunctions to be performed, is ofcomparatively simple form and susceptible of cheap manufacture andinstallation. 1 7

With this .object in View, the invention consists in a construction andcombination of parts of which apreferred embodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings but to which em bodiment the invention, is notto be restricted. Continued'use in practice may ,dictate certain changesor alterations a-nd the right is claimed vto make-any which fall withinthe scope of the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention. M Y

Figure 2 isa-t'op plan view.

Figure 3 isasectional viewon the-plane indicated by theline 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view' on the plane indicated by the line 44.o-fFigureB.

Figures'S, 6 and '7 are sectional views on the planes indicated bythelines 5'5, 6+6 and 7'? respectivelyof Figure 4.

Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views on the planes indicated by the linesI8-8 and 99 respectively of Figure 2. 1 I

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the indicated by the line 10 10'o'fF-ig ure 9.

' Figure 11 is .an :e'levational view,"-partly in secplane tion, of thetraveler actuating motor and its showing the adjusted or changedposition of the switches. H U

Figures 13,14 and L5'- .are sectional views on the planes indicatedz'by.the lines 13-43, I4.-14 'and.l5 l5 respectively of Figure 11.

Figure 16. "is. a diagrammatic view showing the wiring connectionsbetween the different elements' consti t'utihg the invention.

I Desi ned panticularly as a means i or. effecting 'a transverse cut .aribbon of gl'ass as ,it .drawn from the draw.ing "chamber of a glassfurnace, the invention comprises a carrier cieme bestos fabrication 23which will give the jaw ,pe sed .of a frame 2l. -on the rear, face ofwhich 1 a comparatively soft .face ior. contact with the glass ribbonwithout damage to the latter and which .itself will not be sub'iect tothe deleterious efiects of. the hea'tflinom the glass.- The two jaws22are designed'ier contact with thefliront .face of the gIaSsQribbon Jand'there are" provided companion jaws l.24 -foii contact .with the rearface of. theribbcn But thesejaws. '2 are closely spaced parallelrelation. Operative connection between the -.;i arts 24 and the, frame21 is effected through the instizumentality ,of jaw actuatingdevicesw'th the. jaws .24

endgame-21 bymeans of hinge elements 25 which-connect \the jaws 2A and1mm zirespectively tothe fiat bars. 26 and 2.7. .Seated uponlandsecured-to ,each. ,of"the bars v2E7 is a magnet 28 of the flong-range orsolenoid type and the I two ane{connectedctogether betweenjthe sleeve 30"andflthe bar 26Qby means of set screws32'which are passed transverselythrough the barf26 and enter the opening-31' in diametrically oppositesides to engage tin conical seats in thesleeve. Each of the b'olts' 2 9is *surround-ed with a compression,

spring 33"; bearing one-end on the bare? and the other end on-the sleeve"30. ,Byreason of the set screws effecting fcennectionbetween the bar-26 and sleeves 30; a; more or less. flexible icnnnection is'provided-;1. But thelfo-olts 29 are additionally. connectedLzby means of:a plate 34" throughvwhiich'rthey extend pra-nd which res-ts 0 top of:the,.;sleeves 30, v

While the -magnet 28- issecuredto the bar 2}], it isfl opera-ti-velyconnected withthe bar 26 by reason of its plunger being provided with astem 36 (seated in a bore in the end of the plunger and secured in placetherein by a set screw 37) which stem passes through a thimble 38,through an opening in the plate 34 and receives on its threadedextremity a nut 39, between which and the plate 34 there is acompression spring 40 disposed in surrounding relation to the stem. Theplate 34 bears against the outer end of the thimble and the latter isoperatively connected with the bar 26 by means of set screws 41 passingthrough the latter on opposite sides and entering seats in the peripheryof the thimble, the latter passing through a clearance opening in thebar 26.

With this construction, it is obvious that if the magnets 2'7 beenergized, the cores :will be drawn in and relative movement of the bars26 and 27 effected, so that the gripping jaws 22 and 24 are movedtowards each other and into gripping engagement with the glass ribbon,when th'ecarrier will be moved along with the'rib-bon- In this jawengaging operation, the springs 33 are compressed and thegripping actionis cushioned by reason of the movement of themagnet cores being impartedto the bars 26 through which the plunger 47*is slidably mounted, thesleeve 46 being closed'atj one endand' carrying the compressionsprings40. The compression springs 40 preclude such an impact in thegrip-' ping operation as would damage the glass ribbon. v v I Formed asapart of the frame 21 -are the ,space'd parallel guide rods 42 on' whichis slidably mounted a crosshead 43 of a traveler by ,means: of which theglass cutteris carried and actuated. There is connected withthe cross.head a frame 44in which is disposed a magnet 45 of the solenoid typehaving a sleeve 46 in inthis closed end an adjusting screwv 48I'which"interiorto the sleevelisprovided with a head 49 bearing, on one end ofa compression spring 50, the other end of 'whichbea'rs on the inner endof the plunger or core 47. The core47 is formed with a stem 51 whichpasses slidably through'a bushing 52 mounted inthe frame 44,

the stem at its extremitycarrying a cutter head 53 which is'rernovablyfsecured to the stem by means of the set screw 54. The cutter head 53 isdesigned to receive in a suitably formed socket the arm 55 on which thecutter 56 is gular or turning movement and since the cutter disk must,in order to effectively perform,

haveits .axis perpendicular to the axes of the guide rods: 42, means is.provided to prevent rocking movement of the cutter head and to .adjustit for precise perpendicularity with the uide rods.

the cable but, to abut the eye. .termine the distance to which thecarrier may which, being connected to the cutter head, will vary theaxis of rotation of the cutter 56.

When the magnet 45 is de-energized, the plunger 47 is subject to thepressure of the spring and the plunger will'be forced toward and thecutter brought into engagement with the face' of the glass ribbon, sothat if the traveler comprising the crosshead 43, frame 44 and theirattendant 'parts be advancedalong thecarrier, the glass ribbon will bescored by the cutter.

To provide for movement of the traveler com.-

prising the crosshead and frame 44, the frame 21 is provided at remoteends with'the sprockets 64 and 65, a chain 66 being trained over thesethe chain'by a motor 68 operatively connected to the sprocket 62 bymeans of a flexible shaft 69 and a reduction gearing housed in'the case70. In the operation of the invention the motor 68 is rotated first inone direction and then in the other/so that the gear 62 is thusalternately rotated inopposite directions, the one of which will advancethe traveler from the left to the right and the other effect the returnto initial position. In the one direction of movement, the plunger 47 ofthe magnet 45 is subject to the pressure of the spring 50, but in theother direction of movement,the magnet 45 is energized, so that theplunger 47 is drawn in, in which case the cutter is retracted. Thus theglass is scored as the cutter moves inone direction but is uneflected bythe cutter inthemovement of the traveler in the other direction. Asviewed in the rawings, thecutting operation takes place when thetraveler movesfrom the left to the right. In the return movement of thetraveler, when the cutter is retracted, the magnet 45 is energized untilthe traveler completes prevent its being forced beyondgthe plane of theribbon. This seat consists' of a plate '71 connected with a sleeve '72adjustablev along one of the jaw members 22. By this arrangementtheplate may be adjusted to have a position adjacent the edge of the ribbonof glass, so that in starting the cutting operation, when the cu'tter isunder the influence of the spring 50, it may pass off of, the seat platedirectly onto the glass. The adjusting screw 48 provides the means forvarying the intensity of pressure of the cutter on the glass in thecutting operation.

The carrier comprising the frame2l and associated jaws 22 and 24 andthemeans for moving the latter into and out of clamping engagenient. isfiexibly'supported on, cables 73 terminally anchored to the frames ofthe magnets 28, the remote ends" of the cables being connected tocounterweights 74 and the cables being trained over directionpulleys 75.That run of each of the cables connectedv with the counterweight passesthrough a guide eye 76, below which is mounteda collar 7'7 adjustablealong The .collars dedrop and one or'the other of the collars, or both,may be adjusted to' insure exact horizontality, so that the carrier willbe disposed at right angles to the glass ribbon at the time that itstance.

jawsefiect grippingaction on the same, so that the movement of thecutter willbein a transverse lineat right angles to the edgeof theribbon.

The means for actuating the traveler consists of a motor'68, the shaftofwhich extends into the case '70 in the walls of which it is journalled,this interior portion of the motor shaft being provided with a worm 79'in mesh-with a worm 'journalled in the walls of the case '70, thislatter shaft being provided with a spur gear 83 in mesh with a pinion84cm the shaft 81-. By reason of the worm gear connection between themotor shaftand shaft81, the latter runs'at a greatly reduced speed, butthe speed of the shaft 8-2 is reduced much below the speed of theshaft-81 by reason of the ratio of the gear couple 83-454. The functionof the shaft 82 is to periodically open the switches 85 and 86', thelatter consisting of fixed and movable contacts of which the latter areyieldingly impelled into engagement with the former. The switches 85and86 are mounted in brackets 8'7 which atone end are swinging'l-ysupported on the shaft 82, the brackets being provided with slots 88 inwhich engage the hooked extremities of adjust.- i-ng screws 89, thelatter having threaded shank portions engaging nuts 90 having swivelmountings' in the top of the case 70. The switch brackets may be swungon the shaft 82 as a center toward and away from each other by elevatingor lowering the I adjusting screws through the rotation of'the'nu'ts 90.The shaft 82 carries a cam 91 engageable with the pro jections 92 on thetwo switches to effect opening movement of either.

Exterior to the case 70 the motor shaft carries a brake drum 93surrounding which is a brake band 94'having one end secured, as at 95,to one "wall of the case '70, the other end of the brake band beingpivotally connected with the brake lever 96 pivotally mounted on thewall of the case '70, with the force arm subject to the pull of thespring 9'? or the plunger 98 of a magnet 99. The spring and plunger actin opposite directions and when the force of the spring is applied tothe lever, the brake band is seated on the drum, release movement of thebrake band being effected when the lever is subject to the pull of theplunger. 7 I

Other equipment comprised the invention than that above mentionedconsists of apilot switch composed of a swingingxarm 100 pivoted on abase of insulating material 101 and normally resting on a stop 1'02,where it is int'h'e path of the glass ribbon 20. base 101 is adjustableon the standard 103' and carries a contact 104 with which the arm 1 00'is engageable after being raised a prescribedangular "dis- Furtherequipment comprises relays of which one embodies a magnet W5 and anassociated switch of the double-pole variety of which the blade 106 is single-throw for engagement with or disengagement from the contact'lOBand the blade 1'07 for alternateiengageme'nt with the contacts 109 and110. The switch is spring retracted as indicated at lli'to engage theblade 1'07 with the contact 110, when the blade 106 supply line line.

isdisengaged from the-contact 128. Theother relay embodies a magnet 112and a triple-pole switch of which the blades 113 and 114- aresin'gleeth-rowrand move into and out of opera tive engagement with thecontacts 115 and 116.

The remaining blade 117 is alternately engaged with the contacts 118 and1 19.

The motor 68 issubject to reversalin rotation. Therefore, the field andarmature circuits are separate, the field circuits being energizeddirect from the supply line 120 which obviously may be equipped with aswitch (notillustrated) to cut out the whole equipment.

The clamp-magnets 28 are connected in parallel and across the supplyline through the pilot switch and through the doubleepole switch. Thecutter magnet isconn'ect'ed across" the line through the-triple-p'oleswitch, the relay masnet 105 across the line through theswitch-SG andthe triple-pole switchand the magnet 112 across the line through theswitch85 and the .double pole switch. The motor'armature is connected inon both thed'ouble-pole and triplepole switches and responds to currentfed through .on'e 'or theother, moving in one direction when one switchfunctions and in the other direction whenthe' other switch functions.The brake magnet may be connected in parallel with the armature 'or'inseries as shown.

In the operation of the invention, when the sheet of glass is initiallystarted fromthe draw- .ing chamber of the furnace below, it passesthrough the customary feed rollsand the upper edge will first engage thearm 1.00 of the pilot switch, moving itinto engagement with the contact104. There willthen be a'fiow of current from the positive side .of theline 120 over the conductor 12-1,through the clamp magnets 28 inparallel, then over the conductor 122, through the pilot switch and thenover' the conductor 123 to the supply line. 'The' clampv magnets beingthus energized, the jaws 22' and 24 will be moved into engagement withthe glass ribbon and the carrier will ,thus, .be' clamped to the ribbonand since the latter isrnovingat acontinuous speed, it will move alongwith the ribbon,

the counterbalancing weights 74 preventingany undue strain on the ribbonby reason of the weightof. the carrier. .Butthe moving ribbon :flnallymovesth'e arm 100 tora point past the contact 104, when no furthercurrent can pass through the pilot switch. But when the pilotswitchclosed the circuit'across the supply line (the motor forthe'traveler being then in a position where the cam 91 engaged and heldthe switch 85 an open position):, there was pro-' vided in addition tothe circuit through the clamp magnets 28', a circuit through'the relaymagnet 105', current passing from the positive side of the supply lineto the switch bladex'll'l, to the contact-119, over the conduc'tor"124,through the magnet 105, switch 86 and conductors 1'22 and 123 to thenegative side of the With the energization of the magnet 1'05, thedouble-pole switches moved to engage the blades 106 and 107 with thecontacts 108 and 109, shifting the blade 10? away from the contacts 110.the motor armature, current flowing from the positive side oii'the lineover the switch blade 106-an'd contact 108 to the conductor 125 throughthe brake mag-net and motor armature and back over the conductor 126 tothe switch blade 107 jandthen'ce to the negative side of the supply Thisestablishes a circuit on .Thus the brake is released and thearmai tureenergized with the. result that movement will be imparted tothe travelerand it will be advanced across the. carrier with the'cutter in contactwith the glass, since the plunger 47 of the magnet 45 will thenbesubject to the pressure of the spring 50. But the carrierwill be movingwith the ribbon of glass, sothat the only relative movement between theribbon and the cutting mechanism is between the traveler and the ribbon,the traveler moving transversely of the ribbon. But with the operationof the traveler, the cam 91 is set in operation,- leaving the switch 85,so that that is shifted to closed position. While the switch controlsthe magnet 112, this magnet cannot be energized atfthis time, becauseits circuit is open by reason of the separation of the'blade 107 fromthe contact 110. When the traveler shall have moved all the way acrossthe glass ribbon, the cam 91 will be brought into engagement with theswitch 86, thus opening that switch and consequently opening the circuiton the magnet. 105, so that the spring 111 will return the double-poleswitch to its normal. position, opening the circuit on the motorarmature but closing the circuit on the magnet 112 by reason of theblade engaging the contact 110, so. that current may flow over theconductor 127, through the switch 85, the conductor 128, the magnet 112and the switch blade 107 back to the negative side of. the supply line.But energizing the magnet 112,. results in shifting the position of thetriple-pole switch, engaging its several blades with the contacts 115,116 and 118 and separating the blade 117 from' the contact 119. In thispositionof' the triple-pole switch, the clamp magnets will .-be

short-circuited by the conductor 129, but current will flow from thepositive side of the supply line over the switch blade 117 andtheconductors 129 and 122 to the conductor 126, thence through themotor'armature and brake magnet,

in a reverse direction than formerly, thus. im-

parting reverse movement to the motor, the current returning tothe'supply line over the conductor 125 and theswitch' blade 113. Thebrake which was set on opening the motor'circuitis released .by thebrake magnet "99 on reverse movement being imparted to the motor. Thetraveler will thus be moved back along the carrier in the reversedirection than'formerly and the direction of rotation of the cam. 91will be "reversed. But in' this reverse movement, the

cutterretracting magnet 45 is energized, current flowing to it from thepositive side of the supply line over the conductor 121 and then back.to'the supply line over the conductor and the switch blade 114. Whenthe cam starts its reverse movement, it'releases the switch 86 to permitthe latter to close, but this does not result in closing the circuit onthe magnet 105, because continuity of that circuit is dependent on theblade 117 being in" engagement with the contact 119 when the magnet 112is energized.

After'the glass ribbon is scored and thesheet removed; the pilot switchmay drop down over the exposed end to 'be' operated by the then edge ofthe ribbon, the several series of operations recited above beingrepeated. J When the clamp magnets are deprivedof current, as in thereturn movement of the traveler, the carrier drops by gravity until thecollars 77 abut the eyes 76 and remainsin this position until the clampmagnets are again energized. i

The adjustment of the switches 85 and 8 angularly toward and away fror'neac'h other provides .forvarying the time elementof their operationbythe movement of the cam 91 and thus provides for varying the heightofthe sheet of glass out from the ribbon when the ribbon is moved at'aconstant ,linearspeed.

,The invention having been described, what is claimed as new vand usefulis:

1. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrierhaving means to, effect agripping action on ,a ribbon of glass to fixedlysecure it with respect:to said ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier, automaticlmeans foreffecting movement of the traveler in onedirection along the carrierwhen the "gripping means'is active, and a cutter carried by the travelerto score the glass in the movement of such traveler.

2. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrier having means. to effecta gripping action'on a ribbon of glassito fixedly secure it with respectto said ribbon,a traveler mounted on the carrier, automatic means foreffecting movement of the traveler inone v directionalong the carrierwhen the gripping meansqis-active, acutter carried by the'traveler toscore the glassin the movement of such traveler, and means toyieldinglyimpellir g the cutter towardsthe ribbon of glass ;to score the latter,and automatic means for retracting the; cutterfrom contact with theglass ribbonexcept when the gripping means is 4. Glass cutting apparatuscomprising a carrierhaving gripping jaws for disposition on oppositesides of a ribbon; of glass, means ;for effecting movement of the jawstoward and away from each other to cause gripping action on the glassribbon. or release therefrom. traveler mounted on the carrier, means forefiecting movement of-the traveler along thecarrier, a putter carried bythe traveler to score the glass in the movement of the traveler,means-to retract the cutter in the return movement of the traveler, andoperative connections between the cutter retracting means and the clampjawmov- ,ing means to-effiect jaw releasing movement when the cutter isretracted, I 1

5.- Glass cutting. apparatus-comprising a carrier having'means toeffectgripping-actionon a ribbon of glass to fixedlyf secure it withrespect to said ribbon, a traveler mounted on the carrier, automaticallyreversible driving means operatively connected with the traveler, acutter carried vby the traveler, means foryieldingly impelling thecutter towards the glass ribbon in onedirection of movement of thetraveler,

means forretracting the cutter in'the other directioncof 'movement'ofthe traveler, and means ,operatively connecting the driving means withthe two last said means to co-ordinate the cutter controlling functionsof the latter in the forward and reverse-movements of the. drivingmeans.' I

6. Glass cutting-"apparatus comprising a car,-

rier,'clamping jaws fordisposition on opposite sides of a ribbon ofglass and movable toward and away from each other to effect clampingaction on or release from said ribbon, a traveler mounted on thecarrier, means for effecting movement of the traveler in oppositedirections along the carrier, means for effecting clamping action andrelease of said clamping jaws, a cutter carried by the traveler, meansyieldingly impelling the cutter towards the glass ribbon in onedirection of movement of they traveler, means for retracting said cutterin the other direction of movement, and operative connections betweenthe traveler driving means, the clamping jaw actuating means and thecutter retracting means to efiect retraction of the cutter during theintervals of release position of the jaws. i

7. Glass cutting apparatus comprising a carrier having means to effect agripping action on a ribbon of glass, release devices for said means,

a traveler mounted on the carrier for movement I in opposite directionsalong the latter, means for effecting movement of the traveler, a glasscutter carried by the traveler, means yieldingly impelling the cuttertowards the glass ribbon in one direction of movement of the traveler,means for retracting the cutter in the other directionof movement of thetraveler, and operative connections between the release devices and themeans for effecting traveler movement whereby the release devices willbe operative during that traveler movement in which the cutter isretracted.

8. Glass cutting apparatus for cutting intosheets a moving ribbon ofglass comprising a flexibly suspended carrier, gripping members carriedby said carrier for securing it to the glass ribbon, a traveler mountedon the carrier for movement in opposite directions thereon, means forefiecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by thetravelerand yieldingly impelled into contact with the glass ribbon inone direction of movement of the traveler, retracting means for the,cutter during the other direction of movement of! the traveler, andoperative connections between the gripping members and the means foreffecting traveler movement to insure operation of the gripping memberswhen the cutter is in contact with the ribbon and release of saidmembers when the I cutter is retracted.

9. Glass cutting apparatus for cutting into sheets a moving ribbon ofglass comprising a flexibly suspended carrier, gripping members carried.by said carrier for securing it to the glass ribbon, a traveler mountedon the carrier for movement in opposite directions thereon, means forefiecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by thetraveler and yieldingly impelled into contact with the glass ribbon inone direction of movement of the traveler, retracting means for thecutter during the other direction of movement of the traveler, andoperative connections between the gripping members and the means forefiecting traveler movement to insure operation of the gripping memberswhen the cutter is in contact with the ribbon and release of saidmembers when the cutter is retracted, the carrier supporting meanscomprising cables connected to the traveler at opposite ends, pulleysover which the cables are trained, and weights carried at the remoteends of the cables.

I0. Glass cutting apparatus for, cutting into sheets a moving ribbon ofglass comprising a flexibly suspended carrier, gripping members carriedby said carrier for securing it to the glass ribbon, a traveler mountedon the carrierfor movement in opposite directions thereon, means foreffecting movement of the traveler, a glass cutter carried by thetraveler and yieldingly impelled into contact with the glass ribbon inone direction of movement of the trav-.

eler, retracting means for the cutter during the other direction ofmovement of the traveler, and operative connections between the grippingmembers and the means for effecting traveler movement to insureoperation of thegripping members when the cutter is in contact with 'ther'ibbon and release of said members when the cutter is retracted, thecarrier'being provided with spaced guide rods and the'traveler having aframe slidably mounted on said rod,

sprockets at the remote ends of the traveler,

one of said sprockets being connected with the means for effectingtraveler movement, and a gripping means, and flexible supporting meansfor the carrier to permit bodily movement thereof, and operativeconnections between the cutter retracting means and the means foreffecting traveler movement and the last said means and the releasingdevices to effectoperation of the last during the period of retractionof the cutter when the traveler is moving in one direction along thecarrier.

12. Glass cutting apparatus for cutting sheets from a moving ribbon ofglass comprising a carrier having means to effect a gripping action onsaid ribbon to releasably secure the carrier thereto, a traveler mountedon the carrier for movement in opposite directions therealong, means foreffecting movement of the traveler, a cutter carried by the traveler andyieldingly impelled towards the glass ribbon in onedirection of movementof the traveler, retracting meansfor the cutter, releasing devices forthe gripping means, and flexible supporting ,means for the carrier topermit bodily movement thereof, and operative connections between thecutter retracting means and the means for ef-' fecting traveler movementand the last said means and the releasing devices to effect oper-' ationof the last during the period of retraction of the cutter when thetraveler is moving in one direction along the carrier, said operativeconnections embodying adjustable means to vary the time element of theiroperation.

ALFRED C. OAKES.

